Of the approximately 600 passengers who arrived on two flights by Dutch airline KLM from South Africa (JAR) on Friday, 61 tested positive for the presence of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It is not yet clear whether they have become infected with a new variant of omicron, which has only recently been discovered in South African countries. The portal nos.nl informed about it on Saturday.

The Dutch government has banned flights from South Africa, Botswana and other South African countries since noon on Friday. At that time, they flew to the Netherlands for another two flights from South Africa. All passengers had to pass tests upon arrival. Special sectors have been set up at Schiphol Airport for this purpose.

KLM can only transport EU citizens. Passengers with a negative test result can leave Schiphol Airport, but must be in domestic quarantine for another five days. Passengers who have tested positive will be transferred to a guarded isolation hotel on or near the airport, where they must stay for five to seven days.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday identified the newly discovered variant of omicron, also known as B.1.1.529, as a “variant of concern”. It is possible that it may be more infectious than the currently globally widespread delta variant.